Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings 2026: Who are the best dynasty draft picks after Jeremiyah Love?

Teddy Ricketson

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Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings 2026: Who are the best dynasty draft picks after Jeremiyah Love? image

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It's funny how much of a difference a few months can make. 

AllSportsPeople did our first dynasty rookie rankings a few weeks into the 2025 college football season, and it feels like the landscape has almost completely changed. Quarterbacks that we thought were shoe-ins for top picks in the 2026 NFL Draft now have analysts suggesting they stay in college another season to right the wrongs of their season and to get more positives on film.

Dynasty fantasy football leagues are different than redraft leagues, because in dynasty leagues, football never stops. You have to simultaneously focus on your team in the moment of the season, while also keeping tabs on the upcoming rookies who could be added to your team the following year to make a big impact. 

These will of course change upon knowing which NFL teams draft each of these players, but an objective ranking of them before that happens will give us a clear picture of where they stand on a leveled playing field.

Here is more on who you should be targeting for your 2026 dynasty fantasy football rookie drafts heading into bowl season. 

2026 fantasy rookie rankings for dynasty league drafts

Here are the top 20 fantasy rookies heading into the 2026 drafts, which notice on how much they rose or fell since the September list.

RkFantasy rookiePOSSchool
1Jeremiyah Love ⬆️ 1RBNotre Dame
2Jordyn Tyson ⬇️ 1WRArizona State
3Carnell Tate ⬆️ 2WROhio State
4Denzel Boston ⬆️ 3WRWashington
5Justice Haynes ⬇️ 1RBMichigan
6Makai Lemon ⬆️ 6WRUSC
7Chris Brazell II ⬆️ NRWRTennessee
8KC Concepcion ⬆️ NRWRTexas A&M
9Eli Stowers ⬇️ 1TEVanderbilt
10Kaytron Allen ⬆️ NRRBPenn State
11Fernando Mendoza ⬆️ NRQBIndiana
12Jonah Coleman ⬆️ 1RBWashington
13Elijah Sarratt ⬆️ NRWRIndiana
14Ja'Kobi Lane ⬆️ 3WRUSC
15Kenyon Sadiq ⬆️ NRTEOregon
16Ty Simpson ⬆️ NRQBAlabama
17Dante Moore ⬆️ NRQBOregon
18Chris Bell ⬆️ NRWRLouisville
19LaNorris Sellers ⬇️ 13QBSouth Carolina
20Demond Claiborne ⬆️ NRRBWake Forest

Previous rankings, from September 2025:

  1. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
  2. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
  3. Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State
  4. Justice Haynes, RB, Michigan
  5. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
  6. LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
  7. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
  8. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
  9. Eric Singleton Jr., WR, Auburn
  10. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
  11. Darius Taylor, RB, Minnesota
  12. Makai Lemon, WR, USC
  13. Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
  14. Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
  15. Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
  16. Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
  17. Ja'Kobi Lane, WR, USC
  18. Aaron Anderson, WR, LSU
  19. Nyck Harbor, WR, South Carolina
  20. Jaydn Ott, RB, Oklahoma

2026 fantasy rookie analysis for top keeper, dynasty draft picks

1. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Love was the best non-quarterback in college football and earned a nod as a Heisman finalist. The running back somehow improved on his impressive 2024 campaign. Love finished his final collegiate season with 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground, while adding 280 yards and three more touchdowns through the air. 

The junior, who just confirmed he's entering the draft pool, likely will wind up as the near consensus No. 1 fantasy rookie pick in non-superflex/2QB leagues, though as is always the case with running backs, his landing spot will matter for determining his short-term path to production.

2. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Arizona State's season didn't go as expected, but it didn't deter Tyson from having another good season. The wide receiver took a step back overall but still finished with 711 yards and two touchdowns on 61 receptions.

He should still be a first-round NFL Draft pick and one of the first wide receivers off the board. No matter the eventual landing spot, Tyson should be a top pick in rookie drafts next year. 

3. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

Tate is the latest in the line of high-profile wide receivers that the Buckeyes continue to churn out. If his college tape is any indicator, he could be one of the best from the school. Tate came down with 48 receptions in 2025 for 838 yards and eight touchdowns. 

Just like many of his fellow Wide Receiver U. Alums, Tate boasts precise route-running, and his growth will depend on the landing spot and offense. Will he surge like Jaxon Smith-Njigba or run into some stumbles like others?

4. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

The 6-4 junior Boston showed consistency in 2025, after a strong 2024. The Huskies' pass-catcher had 56 receptions for 755 yards and 10 touchdowns. Boston's size will be a big selling point for him, and he projects to be a first-round draft choice come April.

This profile would serve him well as a red-zone and deep-ball threat -- which could raise his stock in any fantasy league that scores less than full PPR.

5. Justice Haynes, RB, Michigan

The running back class looks top-heavy, led by Love from Notre Dame, but Haynes is a close second. He spent the first two years of his collegiate career as a backup at Alabama but became the lead back at Michigan after transferring.

Haynes finished the 2025 campaign with 857 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. He wasn't utilized as much of a pass-catcher, with only 50 yards on 13 receptions. 

The north-south bruiser may not become a true lead NFL back but should compete adeptly for a busy complementary (especially goal-line) role.

6. Makai Lemon, WR, USC

Lemon took a step forward for the 2025 season, cementing him among the best wide receivers in this class. He had 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lemon's receiving yardage was the fourth-most in college football. 

Lemon is lauded in the draft scout community for his ability to separate from defenders and should earn at least a WR3 role on an NFL team out of the gate.

7. Chris Brazell II, WR, Tennessee

Brazell spent the first two years of his career at Tulane before transferring to Tennessee ahead of the 2024 season. He took a step back in his first year on campus, but rebounded in 2025. Brazell II finished with 1,017 yards with nine touchdowns on 62 receptions.

He will be one of the taller pass-catchers in the class, listed at 6-foot-5, but his top-end speed should create plenty of buzz.

8. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

Concepcion debuted for NC State in 2023 with 839 yards and 10 touchdowns. He took a step back in 2024 before transferring to Texas A&M, finishing the 2025 season with 57 receptions for 886 yards and nine touchdowns. 

The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder could be a darling on screen plays and yards-after-catch situations.

9. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Stowers was expected to be the top tight end in this class, and that hasn't changed. He was a favorite target for Heisman runner-up quarterback Diego Pavia. The 6-4 tight end finished his final collegiate season with 769 yards and four touchdowns on 62 receptions.

Even at his build, Stowers draws gasps with his mobility and could flash traits similar to 2025 rookie breakout Harold Fannin Jr.

10. Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State

Nicholas Singleton was expected to be the big time back in the Penn State offense, but Allen continued his successful 2024 campaign. 

He finished the season with 1,303 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 210 carries. One area he could improve or try to show off in front of NFL scouts will be his ability as a pass-catcher. Allen had only 18 receptions for 68 yards, while Singleton had 24-219-1. He leaves as Penn State's all-time leading rusher. 

While he likely won't challenge for the fastest NFL players every week, the 5-foot-11, 217-pounder runs decisively and could excel in zone-blocking systems.

11. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
12. Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
13. Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
14. Ja'Kobi Lane, WR, USC
15. Kenyon Saddiq, TE, Oregon
16. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
17. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
18. Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
19. LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
20. Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest

2026 dynasty superflex/2QB rookie rankings

Of course, the player pool priorities change when you're in a fantasy league that can or is required to start more than one quarterback.

Below is how we would change our top 20 fantasy rookie rankings for multiple-QB league drafts:

1. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
2. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
3. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
4. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
5. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
6. Justice Haynes, RB, Michigan
7. Makai Lemon, WR, USC
8. Chris Brazell II, WR, Tennessee
9. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
10. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
11. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
12. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon
13. Kaytron Allen, RB, Penn State
14. Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington
15. LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
16. Elijah Sarrat, WR, Indiana
17. Ja'Kobi Lane, WR, USC
18. Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt
19. Kenyon Saddiq, TE, Oregon
20. Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

2026 dynasty rookie fantasy sleepers

Nyck Harbor, WR, South Carolina

Harbor is expected to be the fastest player in this class.

The former track star left his former sport and committed to football full-time. The South Carolina offense struggled to re-create its offensive success from 2024, but Harbor still managed to have 618 yards and six touchdowns. He won't be a first-round draft pick, but some team is going to add him to send him on streaks. 

Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State

Singleton had over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2024. He was the other half of Penn State's dynamic backfield duo with Allen, but he took a significant step back in 2025. The talent is still there, so don't let Singleton's 549 yards deter you from drafting him in your rookie drafts. Focus more on the fact that he had 123 carries and 13 touchdowns. 

Hollywood Smothers, RB, NC State

Smothers started his career at Oklahoma but transferred to NC State ahead of the 2024 season. He tallied six rushing touchdowns in each of his two seasons with the Wolfpack. In 2025, he had 939 yards on 160 carries. Smothers is also a solid pass-catcher, adding 189 yards and a touchdown on 37 receptions.